The FA delivered a grassroots talent ID course at the weekend, just a stone’s throw from Leicester’s King Power Stadium, as the Premier League champions were taking on Manchester United in The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s.
Under The FA’s work to address Asian inclusion, and alongside local and regional partners, a new suite of talent ID courses are being delivered at Leicester Nirvana, one of the areas’ foremost community clubs, by scouts who work with the England teams.
Over three days, scouts, coaches and managers learn about relationship building, unconscious bias, recognising potential and the relative age effect, and many professional club technical directors already undertake this training.
It is hoped the course, which specifically targeted the Midlands’ under-represented Asian communities, will have a knock-on effect on player recruitment in those same areas.
Course tutor, ex-Wycombe midfielder and now FA talent ID manager, Steve Brown, said: “It was great to be in Leicester at the type of grassroots club where future stars are made.
“We want to embed the England DNA, which is a philosophy of how we play the game and how we develop players to be the best they can be, across the game from grassroots all the way to the England teams.
“I was really enthused by what I saw and if we can bring the professional and grassroots game closer in this way the future of the game will be in good health.”
Leicester Nirvana chairman Kirk Master added: “Leicester Nirvana are always keen to be a bridge between local communities and the game we all love.
“This snapshot of good practice gives us hope that talent identification becomes a more recognised part of the game and helps to promote inclusion, which can only be a good thing.”
